The 20th International Congress of Aesthetics

Welcome everyone. I am Sung, Nak-In, President of Seoul National
University. It is my sincere pleasure to have the opportunity to be with you
at the 2016 International Congress of Aesthetics. I wholeheartedly welcome
Gao Jianping, President of the International Association for Aesthetics and
every one of you from all over the world.

I believe it is not a coincidence that the 20th International Congress of
Aesthetics, with its worldwide reputation and long history, is being held for
the third time in Asia and first in Korea, here in Seoul, the six hundred
year-long capital of Korea, and one of the cultural and economic centers of
Asia and the world. In particular, the fact that Seoul National University is
hosting this congress in the year of the 70th anniversary of the university's
foundation, fills me, as President, with great happiness and deep pride.

Seoul National University is, without a doubt, Korea's most prestigious
university, composed of 15 colleges and 12 graduate schools, with
approximately 3,000 professors and 28,000 students. The university is also
unique for having an Aesthetics institution not merely as an academic
discipline but also as one of the seventeen departments in the college of
humanities. For the past 70 years, the college of humanities and the
department of Aesthetics have provided Seoul National University students
with exceptional educational opportunities and incomparable intellectual
richness.

The department of Aesthetics was established at the foundation of the
university in 1946, as one of the departments in the college of arts and
science. In 1953, it briefly belonged to the college of fine-arts, before
returning to the college of arts and science in 1960. When Seoul National
University was relocated to the current campus under Gwan-Ak Mountain,
the Department of Aesthetics became a part of the college of humanities.

Over the past 70 years, Korean society has witnessed the department of
Aesthetics produce numerous scholars in the field of Aesthetics as well as
outstanding leading figures especially in diverse areas of culture. I have faith
that the department will play an even more pivotal role in the coming
‘cultural age.’

The Korean Society of Aesthetics, which is the chief organizer of this
congress, was founded in 1968 by the faculty members of the department
of Aesthetics, Seoul National University. The society publishes a quarterly
academic journal in the field of Aesthetics, titled in Korean, and
holds two academic conferences every year in addition to diverse academic
events.

The influence and significance of mass culture has been rapidly increasing
day by day. On this ground, I strongly believe that the main theme of this
Congress, 'Aesthetics and Mass Culture,' cannot be more relevant. Moreover,
presentations and discussions by you, renowned scholars and promising
students from all around the world, will make this year's congress an
extraordinary academic festival as well as an important turning point in the
study of Aesthetics.

I hope that this congress brings about academically productive discussions
and insights, and that after the end of the congress, all of you leave with
fond memories of Seoul National University, Seoul, and Korea. I would like
to celebrate the opening of the International Congress of Aesthetics at Seoul
National University once again, and thank professor Oh Chong-hwan, the
president of the organizing committee, and everyone whose determined
efforts made this Congress possible.